I picked up my copy of Paul David Tripp’s Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry in order to re-read some helpful sections. At one point Tripp refers to Abraham and the obvious challenges to his faith when promised by God he would have an heir but was forced to wait and wait on God to fulfill that promise. He references Romans 4:19-20 which reads:

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

Tripp goes on to say this in light of those words about Abraham:

For many people in ministry, waiting becomes a chronicle of ever-weakening faith because meditating on the circumstances will leave you in awe of your circumstances. They will appear to grow larger, you will feel smaller, and your vision of God will be clouded. But if you meditate on the Lord, you will be in greater awe of his presence, power, faithfulness, and grace. The situation will seem smaller, and you will live with greater confidence even though nothing has changed. Have the circumstances captured your meditation? Are there ways in which you have grown weaker in faith? Or do the eyes of your heart focus on a God who is infinitely greater than anything you will ever face? (p.133)

I found that both challenging and helpful. Abraham meditated on God and not his circumstances. On what are you meditating today? Your circumstances or the Lord? Pray for grace to focus on Him despite your circumstances.

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